title: Evolution of arterial stiffness after kidney transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Increased arterial stiffness (AS) is a major determinant of cardiovascular complications in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Little is known about AS evolution after kidney transplantation. The aim of the study was to characterize the evolution of AS after kidney transplantation in a population of ESRD patients, in comparison to those remaining in dialysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-eight patients (age between 35 and 65) were recruited from the waiting list for kidney transplantation of the University Hospital of Nancy. Two vascular evaluations were performed at a 1-year interval. During this interval, 39 patients were transplanted and 49 remained in dialysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At inclusion, median pulse-wave velocity (PWV) was similar in transplanted patients and transplantation-pending patients, respectively, 9.2 (7.9-11.9) and 9.8 (7.7-12.1) m/s. No difference between the two groups was found at the 1-year interval. Median of time after transplantation was 6.3 (3.8-10.1) months. Median of blood pressure (MBP) decreased only in the transplanted patients [99 (93-112) versus 96 (90-101) mmHg, P < 0.01] Multivariate analysis showed that PWV changes depend on changes in MBP and baseline PWV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although no difference in the 1-year PWV evolution was found, the low MBP value in transplanted patients allow to expect a better long-term evolution of AS and a better cardiovascular prognosis after kidney transplantation than in transplantation-pending patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Brabois Hospital, Nancy University and INSERM EA 4360, Nancy, France. c.bachelet@chu-nancy.fr
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bachelet-Rousseau
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kearney-Schwartz
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frimat
authors.forename: Renaud
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fay
authors.forename: Michèle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kessler
authors.forename: Athanase
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benetos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001158:Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D059289:Vascular Stiffness; D014850:Waiting Lists